Insulated cabinet manufacture

Abstract

An insulated cabinet manufacture for use in a refrigeration appliance or the like, having an outer shell and an inner liner with foamed-in-place insulation therebetween. A wiring tunnel is extended inwardly through an opening in the shell, through the insulation space, and inwardly through an aligned opening in the liner. The opening in the liner may be substantially larger than the periphery of the wiring tunnel and a foam stop element is affixed to the inner surface of the liner with the wiring tunnel extending therethrough. A second foam stop element is loosely disposed on the wiring tunnel to be moved into engagement with the first stop element as an incident of the foaming of the insulation material during the foaming-in-place operation. The outer end of the wiring tunnel may be provided with a flange sealingly secured to the outer surface of the shell. A wiring harness is removably installed in the tunnel to provide wiring from exteriorly of the cabinet to the interior thereof.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In a cabinet structure having an outer shell, and an inner liner spaced inwardly from the shell to define the insulation space therebetween the improvement comprising: a wiring tunnel member extending successively through said outer shell, said insulation space, and said liner;   a first foam stop member adjacent said liner in said insulation space, said wiring tunnel member extending through said first foam stop member;   a second foam stop member extending about and bodily movable longitudinally along said wiring tunnel member in said insulation space; and   foamed-in-place insulation in said insulation space urging said second foam stop member into engagement with said first foam stop member to cause said foam stop members to cooperatively stop the insulation foam at the extension of said wiring tunnel element through said liner.   
     
     
       2. The cabinet structure of claim 1 including means removably securing said wiring tunnel member to said shell. 
     
     
       3. The cabinet structure of claim 1 wherein said liner defines and opening through which said wiring tunnel member freely extends. 
     
     
       4. The cabinet structure of claim 1 including means fixedly securing said first foam stop member to said liner. 
     
     
       5. The cabinet structure of claim 1 including means sealing said wiring tunnel member to said shell. 
     
     
       6. The cabinet structure of claim 1 wherein said foam stop members comprise generally planar elements formed of open cell polyurethane foam having a thickness substantially less than the width of said insulation space. 
     
     
       7. In a refrigeration apparatus cabinet structure having an outer cabinet shell, inner liner spaced inwardly from said shell to defineds an insulation space therebetween, and aligned openings in said shell and liner, improved means for providing a through passage for wiring or the like, comprising: a tubular wiring tunnel member having an outwardly extending flange at one end and having a diameter at its opposite end that is substantially smaller than the diameter of said liner opening;   mounting means for mounting said wiring tunnel flange to said outer shell with said flange centered about said shell opening said tunnel member extending inwardly through said insulation space and through said liner wall opening, so as to define a passage through said shell, said insulation space, and said liner;   a sealing gasket disposed between said wiring tunnel flange and said shell;   a first foam stop member comprising a sheetlike piece of flexible open-cell polyurethane foam secured to said liner and overlying said liner opening, said wiring tunnel member extending through said first foam stop member and into said liner opening;   a second foam stop member comprising a sheetlike piece of flexible open-cell polyurethane foam carried about and bodily movable longitudinally along said wiring tunnel adjacent said first foam stop member; and   foamed-in-place insulation formed within said insulation space engaging said second foam stop member to urge and retain said second member against said first member to cause said foam stop members to cooperatively stop the insulation foam at the extension of said wiring tunnel element through said liner.   
     
     
       8. The cabinet structure of claim structure of claim 7 wherein said wiring tunnel member defines a flange extending radially inwardly and further including a resilient grommet which snap-fits with said inwardly extending flange to effect a seal between said tunnel member and wiring passage therethrough. 
     
     
       9. The cabinet structure of claim 7 wherein said tubular wiring tunnel member extends inward beyond the inner surface of said liner.